Introducing ... Regan Drew your local Tassie Gourmand!

G’day There,

My name is Regan Drew and if you're lucky enough to be part of the upcoming Tassie Gourmand tour, we'll get to know each other well, but if not, here's a little bit about me and Tassie.

I worked in bars, bottleshops, nightclubs and pubs for around 13 years in Tasmania from the mid 1990s. Then I landed a real day job in Sydney, but I could never shake the association with quality wine. I undertook Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Award studies and passed with Distinction, have been an Associate Judge for the Citi New South Wine Awards in 2013, been a Steward/Assoc Judge for the Royal Sydney Wine Show. The academic side is fine, but I love the agricultural aspect and had a couple of stints helping out in the Hunter Valley during vintage with Andrew Thomas of Thomas Wines. After being exposed to all this good wine, I've contributed writing wine review content for Cracka Wines and Sunshine Coast based wine hub The Grapehunter. After starting my own blog, vinonotebook.com, I was invited to be the "Weekend Magazine" wine columnist for the APN ARM stable of newspapers, with a readership of over 500,000.

How to UnWINEd on a Friday Night...

"Sumptuous food with complimentary wine choices. A fun, relaxing and educational evening." - Matt Slee, Tulloch Wines

TGIF! After a long week, there is nothing better than settling in with a glass of wine... Our guests at The ArtHouse Hotel were lucky enough to do just that last Friday!

Lounging on the Chesterfields with a Tulloch Cuvee in their hand, our guests were well and truly “UnWINEd”ing into their weekend. As the last guest arrived and the last of the bubbles disappeared... our first “UnWINEd” dinner began.

Whisky & Cheese @ The Hive Bar, Erskineville

I’ve long been a fan of cheese pairings – but I’ll readily admit that they’ve all been pairings done with a range of wines, from the ‘top shelf’ end of the decadent scale to some seriously mediocre offerings lined up alongside a bowl of well-beyond room temperature cheddar cubes.

But even longer than I’ve been a fan of a cheese-pairing evening, I’ve been a devotee of whisky – specifically, Scotch whisky (with the occasional smattering of Irish, Bourbon, Canadian, Rye, Japanese… and especially Australian whisky thrown in for good measure…)

A night of indulgence... with life's guilty pleasures...

Wine was breathing, cheese bubbling on the stove and you could faintly see your breath in the air when you spoke... yes, Winter was here and so was the Fondue Feast! As the last candle was lit, the first guests started to filter in up the stairs...

Lakiesha Mundy

March 11, 2015

Cheese, Date Night, Fine Dining, Midweek Dinner, Sydney, Taste-E, Uncategorized, Week Night Dinners, Wine, Wine dinner, Woollahra

Fromage a Trois ... My Top Three Cheese Boards in Sydney

Lakiesha Mundy

March 11, 2015

Cheese, Date Night, Fine Dining, Midweek Dinner, Sydney, Taste-E, Uncategorized, Week Night Dinners, Wine, Wine dinner, Woollahra

As the "go to" girl for cheese recommendations and advice with my family and friends, I thought it was high time I posted up my top 3 cheese and wine locations in Sydney.

Although I am no stranger to the cosy night at home with a generous cheese board and a bottle (or if you know me well... two, or three of red) with a friend - I love to venture out and try something new.

Having been to pretty much every cheese selling establishment in Sydney, I have narrowed it down to just three...

Lakiesha Mundy

October 10, 2014

Cheese, Fine Dining, Guillaume, Mudgee, Paddington, Sydney, Truffle, Week Night Dinners, Wine

Guillaume - elegant, refined and well worth the wait...

Lakiesha Mundy

October 10, 2014

Cheese, Fine Dining, Guillaume, Mudgee, Paddington, Sydney, Truffle, Week Night Dinners, Wine

As eagerly anticipated by Guillaume and his team as it has been by diners! I finally set aside a night to experience it for myself!

The website was yet to launch, so the excitement about the menu was the topic of discussion in the cab ride over...

"What do you think he'll keep from Bennelong?" "Ohh I hope the Tuna is still on the menu!!" "Can't wait... so hungry!!"

With rumbling tummies and the 9 months of waiting... 'we couldn't wait', is an understatement.

Lakiesha Mundy

August 5, 2014

Cheese, FoodPath, Ilawarra Prime Alpaca, Li Sun Exotic Mushrooms, Small Cow Farm, Southern Highlands, Sydney, Taste-E, Tertini Wines, The Far North, Truffle, Turramurra, Week Night Dinners, Wine, Wine dinner, Wine Region

Alpaca, truffle, shimeji... all discovered along "a foodie trail through the Southern Highlands"...

Lakiesha Mundy

August 5, 2014

Cheese, FoodPath, Ilawarra Prime Alpaca, Li Sun Exotic Mushrooms, Small Cow Farm, Southern Highlands, Sydney, Taste-E, Tertini Wines, The Far North, Truffle, Turramurra, Week Night Dinners, Wine, Wine dinner, Wine Region

The smell of freshly baked bread wafts around the room... as the Tertini 2009 Sparkling Cuvee Pinot Noir Chardonnay is being poured. A wintery night, reminiscent of my drive down to the Southern Highlands just a few weeks ago... you could faintly make out your breath as you spoke..

Lakiesha Mundy

June 27, 2014

Bunnamagoo Wines, Cheese, High Valley Cheese, Kookaburra Estate, Lowe Wines, Mudgee, Mudgee Honey, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Turramurra, Uncategorized, Week Night Dinners, Wine dinner, Wine Region

Indulge your senses with a "Taste of Mudgee"…

Lakiesha Mundy

June 27, 2014

Bunnamagoo Wines, Cheese, High Valley Cheese, Kookaburra Estate, Lowe Wines, Mudgee, Mudgee Honey, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Turramurra, Uncategorized, Week Night Dinners, Wine dinner, Wine Region

A hint of frost on the windscreen… rows of naked vines line the side of the road… rolling low hills in the distance… Yes, it is early Winter in Mudgee.

A region that is not defined by any one Wine or grape varietal, but is “good at many wines” Rob Black, Winemaker - Bunnamagoo Wines. This historic town is oozing with character which is reflects in its winemaking.

Lakiesha Mundy

May 29, 2014

Audrey Wilkinson, Binnorie Dairy, Cheese, Hunter Valley, Hunter Valley Cheese Co, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Tulloch Wines, Turramurra, Week Night Dinners, Wine dinner, Wine Region

A Journey through the vines at the "Taste of the Hunter Valley"...

Lakiesha Mundy

May 29, 2014

Audrey Wilkinson, Binnorie Dairy, Cheese, Hunter Valley, Hunter Valley Cheese Co, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Tulloch Wines, Turramurra, Week Night Dinners, Wine dinner, Wine Region

As an iconic region of Australia, it seemed natural to take our tastings through the vines of our closest wine producing neighbour. With a plethora of wineries to choose from it seemed a daunting task to select just two! So I let myself be guided by my palate.. "Hunter Semillon and Shiraz is something not replicated in any other wine region" Anthony Gismondi. After tasting my way through the region.. armed with tasting notes and the distinct taste of wine on my tongue.. the Taste of the Hunter Valley was born. Audrey Wilkinson's 2010 Cuvee Blanc on ice... the pungent aromas of the Golden Washed Rind from the Hunter Valley Cheese Co... the room sat still awaiting our 50 guests for the evening.

Lakiesha Mundy

May 4, 2014

Cheese, Mandagery Creek Venison, Midweek Dinner, Orange, Philip Shaw Wines, Printhie Wines, Ross Hill Wines, Second Mouse Cheese Co, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Trunkey Bacon & Pork, Turramurra, Wine dinner, Wine Region

Food, wine and a 'Taste of Orange'...

Lakiesha Mundy

May 4, 2014

Cheese, Mandagery Creek Venison, Midweek Dinner, Orange, Philip Shaw Wines, Printhie Wines, Ross Hill Wines, Second Mouse Cheese Co, Sydney, Taste-E, The Far North, Trunkey Bacon & Pork, Turramurra, Wine dinner, Wine Region

A warmth fills the room as guests filter in to the bar... the hum of conversation and laughter steadily grows, casually interrupted by the pop of a cork followed with a gentle clink of a champagne flute... an event is definitely underway here.

The scents are ambient - a waft of blue cheese, venison stewing on the stove from the kitchen, a yeasty fragrance from the flow of sparkling wine.. the recipe for a great night out!

Upon arrival at The Far North, our host venue for the evening, guests are greeted with a glass of Printhie's sparkling range "NV Swift Cuvee" and a canape of House sugar cured Ocean Trout Crostini with Tzatziki caviar. The Cuvee complemented the oily fish on the Crostini nicely with the richness from the pinot.